LETTER TO THE EDITOR: West Deptford leaders flouting law

I recently spent a lot of time reviewing the 2013 legal bills of West Deptford Township government attorney Anthony Ogozalek. I was disturbed enough by what I found to attend the Sept. 19 meeting to ask why taxpayers are paying Mr. Ogozalek to defend the litigation his poor legal advice caused! He has been paid over $4,000 this year, with more bills to come as the matter moves to court.

A quick summary of the facts is in order. Mayor Ray Chintall, Committeemen Sam Cianfarini and Sean Kilpatrick, and Mr. Ogozalek met at his law office to interview and select township attorneys, engineers and other professional appointments, a meeting that violated the Open Public Meetings Act. As a taxpayer, I sued those individuals to enforce the requirements of New Jersey's Open Public Meetings Act. Mr. Ogozalek's legal brief, and the sworn statements of all in attendance, defended their illegal actions by saying the meeting was a "Republican Party caucus."

If this really was a political caucus, why are taxpayers getting stuck with the bill? The Republican Party should be picking up the legal tab, not the taxpayers. Mr. Ogozalek should refund every nickel he has been paid to date and send future bills to the West Deptford Republican Party. West Deptford deserves better leadership than this.

GARY KUEHNAPFEL

West Deptford

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: West Deptford leaders flouting law

I recently spent a lot of time reviewing the 2013 legal bills of West Deptford Township government attorney Anthony Ogozalek. I was disturbed enough by what I found to attend the Sept.